Thill-coupling



UNITED STATES i PATENT VC)I*IEICR.

PATRICK I. OYBRIEN, or SUMMIT, New .IERs-EY.

i'HlLL-COUPLING. Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK P. OBRIEN, of Summit, in the county of Union and State of Newy Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (Phill-Couplings 5- aud I do hereby declare the following `to be a full, clear, and exact description of the nvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make-and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a 'chill-coupling that can be readily connected to the axle of a carriage or other vehicle with'- out thensual Ineans of a bolt and nut, and thereby to do away with the necessity of using a wrench or'other inconvenient means of connecting said coupling.

The object is also to prevent said coupling from rattling when in action vwithout using the destructible, and therefore expensive, means of elastic packing, and to produce a coupling` that will be durable and generally convenient.

The invention consists in the combination of a thill-iron withpivotal projections `cast or otherwise formed upon itsv inner or coupling extremity with socketed jaws for the reception of said thill-iron, a clamping device for the purpose of securing said thill-iron in said socketedr jaws, and also to hold the shafts or thills in any desiredposition when not in use. l

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in whichsimilar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure l is a side elevation, showing the parts in position ready for operation. Fig. 2 is asection ofthe same, taken through line m. Fig. 3 is a bottom-plan View; and

Fig. 4 is a side view, showing the clampwith its lever attachments open and the thill-iron removed.

In carrying," out my invention I cast or otherwise construct upon the inner or coupling extremity of the thill-iron kA the pivotal p roaated February s, 1880.

jections a, which work in and conform to the bearings b, Fig. 4, within the socketedy jaws o. Upon the outer sides of the said socketed jaws c, I pivot, as at d,.the lever e, which, when the coupling is in position for drawing, as in Figs. l and 3, passes around the plate f, and is held in position by'the pivoted safety catch or button g.

The lever e is attached in the manner in dica-ted, Figs. 1 and 4, to the connecting-rod h, which forms, in connection with the clam-p i, a clamping device to hold the thill-iron in position. 'p ,l

The connecting-rod h is4 fastened to the clamp-iron i by means of a screw, j, which screw serves to regulate the tension upon thew cylinder k of the thill-iron, and prevents all possibility-of said cylinder rattlingwithin the jaws c.

The action of operating the invention is,A

extremely simple.

To disengage-the coupling I rst turn the pivoted catch or button g to Vfree the lever e, then turn the lever e down, which action `throws the connecting-rod h, with its attending clamp-iron t', upward and backward ofi' from upon the pivotal projections e, as shownV in Fig. 4, and thus allows the thill-iron A to be taken from the socket.

It is evident that the lever e, when in the position shown in Fig. l, the pivotal point d' being past the center d, will stayin .the position indicated in said Fig. l without the aid of theV pivoted safety catch or button g,- but I have adopted the latter out of abundant caution to prevent accidental displacement.

The pivot upon which the safety-catch g revolves should be shouldered at y', to prevent the nut m from bearing too vhard upon said catch g.

Having'thus Vdescribed my invention, what I claim, and wish to have secured by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the thill iron and thejaws, arranged as shown, ofthe lever e, pivoted to said jaws, the clamp-iron t', and the connecting-rod h, pivoted to the short arm of said lever e, and secured to said clampand the screw l7',z1rrange(l and operating sub io iron, and operating substantially as and for stantially as and for the purpose set: forth.

the purposes set forth. -In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 2. The combination, with the lever e, of the have hereunto seb my hand this 3d day of De- 5 safety catch or button g, as and for the pureember, 1879.

pose set forth. PATRICK P. OBRIEN.

3. The combination, with the thill iron Witnesses:

and the soeketed jaws, arranged as shown, of OLIVER DRAKE,

the lever e, clamp-iron i, connecting-rod IL, EDWARD G. DELANY. 

